Wirebound cleated plywood or corrugated fiber box



Dec. 16, 1958 J. F. DEDMON WIREBOUND CLEATED PLYWOOD OR CORRUGATED FIBERBOX Filed July 7, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: JAMES F. DEDMON Dec.16, 1958 J. F. DEDMON WIREBOUND CLEATED PLYWOOD OR CORRUGATED FIBER BOXFiled July 7, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

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JAMES F. DEDMON BY %M ewrm ATT'YS Dec. 16, 1958 J. F. DEDMON 5 WIREBOUNDCLEATED PLiWOOD OR CORRUGATED FIBER BOX Filed July '7, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JAMES F. DEDMON BY WIREBOUND CLEATED PLYWOOD ORCOUGATED FIBER BOX James F. Dedrnon, Milan, Tenn.

Application July 7, 1954, Serial No. 441,901

3 Uaims. (Cl. 217-12) This invention relates to a wirebound box or crateof thetype embodying encircling wires stapled to the cleats or slats ofthe box or crate.

The present invention provides a box made of a plurality of panelshaving inside vertically disposed slats or battens, and outsidehorizontally disposed cleats. Sheets of fiberboard, plywood, corrugatedfiber or other material are arranged between the vertical slats orbattens and the horizontal cleats, there being a wire positioned betweenthe outer face of the inside vertical slats and the inner face of thesheets. The wire is stapled to the outer cleats by means of stapleswhich pass through the vertical slats, the legs of the staples spanningthe wire, and then passing through the sheet and into the outerhorizontal cleats, where they may be clinched on the outside. Outsidevertical cleats are arranged at the outer nited States Patent edges ofeach panel, and may be arranged between the horizontal cleats to providegreat strength for the box, particularly at the corners thereof.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision ofan improved box or crate having a plurality of hingedly connectedpanels, each panel consisting of outer cleats and inner slats, with asheet of material arranged between the cleats and the slats and securedby binding wires arranged on the outer face of the sheet material andbetween the slats and the cleats.

Another important object of the invention consists in the provision of anew and novel box made up of hingedly connected panels havingfiberboard, or other like material, to close the spaces between theslats and cleats, binding wires binding the elements of each together insuch a manner that the panels of the crate may be made in a continuousoperation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedwirebound box or crate which is strong and durable in construction,which is so constructed as to provide rigidity, particularly at thecorners thereof, and which is substantially dustproof and capable ofbeing collapsed in real fiat condition for shipping purposes.

A still further object is the provision of an improved box or cratehaving hingedly connected panels, each panel and the completed box beingrigid and durable in construction, capable of being readily andeconomically manufactured and easily and compactly collapsed for storingpurposes.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout thespecification which is to follow.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a certain selected embodiment ofthe invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detail perspective exploded view showing the elements of theimproved box or crate;

Fig. 2 is a detail top plan view of a certain number of panels which mayconstitute the box or crate before the panels are connected together attheir free ends to form the box;

Fig. 3 is a detail exterior elevational view showing the 2,864,523Patented Dec. 16, 1958 various connected panels of the crate or boxbefore the free ends are connected together, said view looking in thedirection of the arrows 33 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail inside elevational view looking in the direction ofthe arrows 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail endelevationalview of the box showing the same in itscollapsed position;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical. sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 8-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspectiveview showing a modified form of panelwhereinthe horizontal and vertical outer cleats extend fully across thebox in both directions;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing another modification ofpanel construction;

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of a panel similar to thosedisclosed in Figs. 1 to 9, but showing the sheet material arranged inthe spaces between vertical and horizontal cleats; and

Fig. 12 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 1212 of Fig.11.

The particular construction herein disclosed for illustrating theinvention comprises a box or crate made up of a plurality of hingedlyconnected panels. The number of panels employed may be any numberdesired to meet the purposes intended but is shown herein as being fourto constitute a rectangularly shaped box. The four panels numbered 1 to4, inclusive, each comprise spaced inner vertical slats or battens 5,preferably arranged at the ends of the panels which would be at thecorners of the box. However, if the box is to be relatively large insize, more battens or slats may be provided. Also, instead of havingadditional intermediate slats or battens extending vertically, they maybe angularly disposed, or they may be arranged in crosswise fashion. Inany event, the slats or battens 5 will .be angularly or verticallydisposed with respect to the horizontal, and therefore are referred toherein as being vertical slats or battens.

Each of the panels 1 to 4 comprises the inner vertical slats 5 and theexterior horizontal cleats 6, two vertical slats or battens 5 and threehorizontal cleats being specifically shown in all views of the drawings.Sheet material 7, such as corrugated fiber, fiberboard, plywood, orother suitable material, is mounted between the outer surfaces of thevertical slats or battens 5 and the inside surfaces of the horizontalcleats 6.

Binding material 8, such as a binding wire, is arranged on the inside ofthe sheet material 7 and on the outer contacting surface of the slats orbattens 5 at the upper, lower and central position. The binding wire 8,in each instance, is held in place by means of staples 9, the legs ofwhich straddle the bindingwires 8, pass through the sheet material 7,and then pass through the horizontal cleats 6, the free ends of thestaples being clinched on the outer faces of the cleats 6, as indicatedat 10, Fig. 3. The binding wire 8 is so positioned with respect to thehorizontal cleats 6 that the wire will be arranged substantially midwaybetween the upper and lower edges of the cleats, of the narrow panels 2and 4.

The binding wires 8 also are arranged so that they will extend betweenthe inner surface of a sheet 7 and the outer surface of the verticalslats or battens 5, as clearly shown in the various figures, seeparticularly Figs. 6 and 7.

Each panel 1 to 4 also may include exterior vertical cleats 11 which arearranged at the end of each panel adjacent the outer'edges of each slator batten 5, the outer vertical side edges of the cleats 11 preferablybeing flush with the outer edges of the battens 5. These outer verticalcleats 11 are specifically shown herein as being relatively short andarranged between the horizontal cleats 6. However, the outer verticalcleats 11 may extend the full height of the box, as shown in Figs. 9 and10. In Fig. 9, the vertical cleats 11 are shown as being rabbeted, asindicated at 12, and contact corresponding rabbeted ends 13 at the endsof the outer horizontal cleat 6, Fig. 9. This latter construction,therefore, provides that both the horizontal and the vertical cleats 6and 11, respectively, extend the full width and length of the box.

These outer vertical cleats 11 have their inner surfaces contacting theouter surfaces of the sheets 7 and are arranged opposite the slats orbattens 5, so as to hold the sheet material 7 in locked or impingedposition. Additional staples 9 pass through the battens 5, the sheetmaterial 7, and through the vertical cleats 11, being clinched over onthe outside of the vertical cleats.

The inner vertical slats or battens are relatively thin, and beingarranged in the inside of the box inwardly of the cleats, permits thebox to be collapsed in real flat position, as shown in Fig. 5. If thebinding wires 8 were arranged exteriorly of the cleats 6, there would bea binding action of the wire against the corners of each panel,particularly when the ends of the wires are locked together, and preventthe box from being fully collapsed in real fiat form.

In cases where the box is to be a four sided box, as herein shown, therewill be four panels. Panels 1 to 4 are spaced apart, and the wires 8span these spaces; thus the four panels are hingedly connected togetherby the binding wires 8. Every four panels are spaced apart a distancegreater than the spacing of the individual four panels which constitutethe enclosing side walls of the box, Figs. 2 to 4. The binding wires 8are severed at the end of every four panels, that is, between each endpanel 4 and the adjacent end panel 1 of the next succeeding group ofpanels, so as to leave projecting wire ends 14 extending from the outerends of panels 1 and extending outwardly from panel 4 as indicated at15, Fig. 2. These free ends 14 and 15 are adapted to be secured togetheras by twisting or otherwise, as indicated at 16, Figs. 1 and 5. Duringthe manufacture of the boxes of the present invention, the slats orbattens 5, the cleats 6 and 11, the sheet material 7, and the wire 8 areall fed continuously in flat form. The feeding is such that a greaterspace is provided between every fourth panel and the next succeedingpanel than the space between the other connecting panels, thus providingthe greater lengths for the ends 14 and 15 of the wires to permit thetwisting 16. Every fourth panel has the additional space to provide arelatively long end of wire to accomplish the twisting purpose.

The panels 2 and 4, as herein specifically shown, are made somewhat lessin height than the corresponding panels 1 and 3, as clearly shown inFigs. 1, 3 and 4, so as to accommodate the ends of a top member 17 whichinterfits with the box when expanded. The top 17, Fig. 1, is positionedso that the outer edges 18 of the rails 19 will be flush with the outersurfaces of the cleats 6 at the outer surfaces thereof. The side stiles20 of the top 17 will be recessed below the top edges of the outercleats 6 of the panels 1 and 3. The top 17 thus may be locked in placeby driving nails through the end rails 18 and into the upper edges ofthe cleats 6 of panels 2 and 4. The stiles 20 ofthe top 17 have theirupper surfaces flush with the top edges of the top cleats 6 of thepanels 1 and 3, thus permitting nails to be driven into the sides of thetop cleats 6 of the panels 1 and 3 and into the side edges of the stiles20 of the top 17. A sheet 21 of fiberboard or plywood is adapted to bemounted on the inner surface of the top and secured to the stiles andrails of the top 17 by staples or nails.

The bottom 22 may comprise two outside end members 23, 23, Fig. 1, towhich end cross members 24, 24 are secured by nailing, or otherwise. Thecross members 24 extend inwardly from the outer ends of the longitudinalmembers 23, whereupon the cross members 24 will fit within the bottomhorizontal cleats 6, while the vertical cleats 11 of the panels will beflush with the outer end and edge surfaces of the cleats 6. Therefore,nails may be driven through the extending ends of the longitudinalmembers 23 and driven into the outer or bottom surfaces of the bottomcleats 6 of the panels 2 and 4. The bottom 22 also may be fastened inplace by driving nails through the sides of the bottom cleats 6 of thepanels 1 and 3 and into the side edges of the stiles 23. Sheet material25 may be secured to the bottom 22.

Depending upon the size of the box, and the weight of the material whichis to be put into the box, the top and bottom construction may bereversed, as in some instances the weight may be suspended from the topand in other cases it may be supported on the bottom. Therefore, the topand bottom members 17 and 22 may be reversed, depending upon conditions.The bottom 22 may be strengthened by one or more bracing members 26 ifdesired.

Instead of employing the cleat construction disclosed in Figs. 1 to 8,or the modification shown in Fig. 9, the horizontal cleats 6, Fig. 10,may be provided with tongues 27 which fit into recesses 28 formed in theinner side edges of the vertical cleats 11.

In some instances it may not be necessary to have the sheet material 7of the panels 1 to 4 impinged between the cleats 6 and 11 and the slatsor battens 5, as shown in Figs. .11 and 12. It is desirable, howeverthat the box or crate be relatively dustproof. Therefore, the sheetmaterial 7 may be of a size to fit between the inner edges of thevertical cleats 11 and between the inner edges of the vertical cleats 6,thereby saving considerable of the sheet material 7. Also, tofurthersave sheet material, the sheet material 7 may be of such a sizethat it will extend only between the openings defined by innerperipheral edges of the vertical cleats 11 and the opposed edges of thehorizontal cleats. In this latter embodiment where three horizontalcleats 6 are employed, the sheet material 7 may fill in only theopenings between adjacently disposed horizontal cleats and the innersides of the vertical cleats 11, Figs. 11 and 12, the sheet materialbeing defined by the horizontal edges 29 of the horizontal cleats 6 andthe vertical edges 30 of the vertical cleats 11.

The box or crate of the invention, therefore, embodies all theadvantages of a conventional six sided box having the six sides nailedtogether. The invention also has all the advantages of a wireboundcrate. It has none of the disadvantages of either. The box of theinvention can be made continuously in the manner of an open wireboundcrate, but still embody all the features of a conventional six sided boxin which the sides, bottom and top are all nailed together. Theinvention also provides a box which is considerably stronger than eitherthe conventional box construction or the conventional wirebound box orcrate construction. It overcomes the disadvantages of both and includesall the advantages of both. The particular construction disclosed hereinprovides for complete collapsing of the crate in real fiat form andembodies a strong corner construction.

The invention also contemplates the use of cross slats or diagonal slatsor battens, to be applied to the panels 1 to 4 wherever necessary, inorder to further strengthen the device, and such strengthening orbracing construction will depend entirely upon the size of the box orcrate of the invention as well as the weight of the commodity for whichthe box is to be used.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A collapsible wirebound structure, such as a box or crate, includinga plurality of spaced apart hingedly connected closed side panels, eachpanel comprising outer vertically spaced horizontal cleats, innerhorizontally spaced vertical battens adjacent the opposite ends of saidcleats coacting with said cleats to define a polygonally shaped openframe, a sheet of material between said battens and said cleats coveringthe entire frame between the cleats and battens to define the closedpanel, a plurality of binding wires arranged on the inside of the sheetmaterial and arranged between said battens and said sheet of material,one each extending substantially parallel to a cleat, all of said wiresserving to hingedly connect all of said panels, fastening means securingsaid cleats, battens, sheet of material and wires together, whereby noneof the elements may move relative to any other element, and top andbottom closures for said structure.

2. A collapsible wirebound structure, such as a box or crate, includinga plurality of spaced apart hingedly connected closed side panels, eachpanel comprising outer vertically spaced horizontal cleats, innerhorizontally spaced vertical battens adjacent the opposite ends of saidcleats coacting with said cleats to define a polygonally shaped openframe, a sheet of material between said battens and said cleats coveringthe entire frame between the battens and the cleats to define the closedpanel, a plurality of binding wires arranged between said battens andsaid sheet of material and arranged on the inside face of the sheetmaterial, one each extending substantially parallel to a cleat, all ofsaid wires serving to hingedly connect all of said panels, staplessecuring said cleats, battens, sheet of material and wires together,outer vertical cleats secured over the outer surface of said sheet andhaving their outer side edges substantially flush with the outer sideedges of said vertical battens, whereby none of the elements may moverelative to any other element, and a bottom for said structure.

3. A collapsible wirebound structure, such as a box or crate, includinga plurality of spaced apart hingedly connected closed side panels, eachpanel comprising outer vertically spaced horizontal cleats, innerhorizontally spaced vertical battens adjacent the opposite ends of saidcleats coacting with said cleats to define a polygonally shaped openframe, a sheet of material between said battens and said cleats coveringthe entire frame to define the closed panel, a plurality of bindingwires arranged on the inside of the sheet material and between saidbattens and said sheet of material, one each extending substantiallyparallel to a cleat, all of said wires serving to hingedly connect allof said panels, staples straddling the binding wires and securing saidcleats, battens, sheet of material, wires together, and outer verticalcleats secured over the outer surface of said sheet of material andextending between the outer horizontal cleats, said vertical cleatshaving their outer side edges substantially flush with the outer sideedges of said vertical battens, whereby none of the elements may moverelative to any other element, and a bottom to close said open frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS587,923 Bokop Aug. 10, 1897 946,278 Sherman Jan. 11, 1910 1,122,864Cochran Dec. 29, 1914 1,845,194 Rosenmund Feb. 16, 1932 1,908,100Andrews -s May 9, 1933 1,940,285 Babcock Dec. 19, 1933 2,332,652MacKenzie Oct. 26, 1943 2,609,957 Sester Sept. 9, 1952 2,743,010 KoesterApr. 24, 1956

